Investigators found a 48-year-old man suffering from serious burns and he was airlifted to a Bay Area trauma center. He is considered a suspect, but his name was not released.

His wife and young child were at home at the time of the explosion. They were not injured.

"Butane Hash Oil labs are becoming a major public safety concern in our communities. Butane gas, which is highly flammable, is used in the hash oil extraction process. Santa Cruz has experienced a number of such explosions causing major injury and exposing neighborhoods to a serious safety threat," Santa Cruz police said.

In September 2013, three young men suffered life-threatening burns when their lab exploded into a fireball at a house on the 700 block of Third Street. Doctors said they most likely have permanent deformities.